We don’t usually talk about ourselves on this blog, but it’s been a fantastic year, thanks to our employees and clients. We just had to share our gratitude and tie it back to what it means for you: We all thrive together.
Here are some top reasons we can’t wait to head into 2025 with you:
We love working together. We are thrilled to be again named one of San Antonio Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. The rankings are based on confidential surveys of employees measuring team dynamics, trust in leadership, communication, and other areas—all of which we work very hard to foster. And we know we can still do more, which is why we began holding our first annual firm retreat in 2024 to connect, communicate, and re-energize as well as to brush up on tax updates, strategic planning, key firm developments, and leadership training led by WHY Group, LLC Bradley Hunt.
We continue to grow! You may have noticed that we’ve added new faces to our lineup this year. Cathy Hooks, CPA, joined us as a seasoned leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience in maximizing client tax savings. Chipper Lamm, CPA, holds a BBA in Accounting and Data Analytics and has a background in corporate tax management at a national corporation and working on returns with multiple state filings. Kat Guenther quickly became an integral part of our support staff, thanks to her diverse background in sales and administrative support across various industries. Vanessa Aguilar joined us with over 12 years of experience in administrative roles and extensive bookkeeping experience. Visit our About Us page to learn more about these talented individuals.
And we love to be a place many ultimately retire from. We are proud to be a rare CPA-only firm. That means we don’t employ bookkeepers or interns to do the tax work like the Big Four accounting firms and even some of our fellow small- and mid-size firms do. As our Founding Partner, Steven Bankler, says, “We won’t be your first job, but we could be your last!” On that note, we congratulated Ausie Burns, CPA, CGMA, on her retirement from Bankler’s team in 2024. Ausie joined our team in 2017 and instantly became part of the Bankler family. Working beside her as a collaborator, valued contributor, and friend has been a true pleasure.
We are passionate about educating our business community. If you’re a local client, there’s no doubt you’ve had the opportunity to join us at one of our many hosted and co-hosted events throughout the year. We love them as much as you do! Our recent dinner seminar at Perry’s Steakhouse is a great example. We had significant things to say about the new Corporate Transparency Act regulations, so we did it in style: With Steve Bankler and James Rosenblatt of the Rosenblatt Law Firm, sponsored by Frost Bank, engaged in conversation and Q&As while guests enjoyed dinner and cocktails. We thank Frost Bank and Stroll Magazine for inviting us to help host another great San Antonio Business Mix & Mingle, an evening of conversation, connection, and community. And we continue to value our connection to the XPX San Antonio Summit, where we join with other exit planning professionals to help private business owners build business value, transfer ownership, and create a legacy of success.
We continue to evolve. As tax codes and opportunities continue to evolve, so do we. We are forever sharpening our focus on tax planning and exit planning strategies that minimize tax effects. This upcoming 2025 tax year promises to be a wild ride for many business owners, and we’re as ready as possible. As our family of CPAs changes and grows, we also find new, valuable niches within this space. One to watch for is in the area of contingency fee arrangements for law firms. The IRS has special provisions that allow not only the timing of their income but also a unique feature in the financing of litigation expenses.
Do you have specific questions or concerns about how this past year, or the new one, may affect your business? Reach out to us. We’re celebrating a great year together, but we also have an eye on the future for us all.
